Athletic shoe

ABSTRACT

An athletic shoe adapted for use in a plurality of different sports. The shoe includes an upper constituted to meet the usage requirements of each of the different sports. An outsole constituted as a separate part from the upper has traction means on its bottom adapted for use in one of the sports and means are provided for securely but removably fastening the outsole to the bottom of the upper. Thus, the outsole may be removed and another outsole having different traction means may be fastened to the upper.

United States Patent [191 Krus et a1.

[ Apr. 30, 1974 1 ATHLETIC SHOE [75] Inventors: Jerome J. Krus, EastAlton;

Governor V. Quinn; Ulice A. Jordan, both of East St. Louis, all of 111.

[73] Assignee: Three-Line Research and Development Co., Inc., GraniteCity, 111.

[22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 224,478

[52] U.S. C1. 36/2.5 R, 36/30 R [51] Int. Cl A43b 13/12 [58] Field ofSearch 36/25 R, 2.5 C, 2.5 W,

36/25 A, 41, 59 R, 62; 2/DIG. 6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,318,025 5/1967 Antelo36/30 R 3,099,884 8/1963 Kixmiller et a1. 2/D1G. 6 631,821 8/1899 Riemer36/25 W 3,012,341 12/1961 Schaefer 36/25 C Primary Examiner-Patrick D.Lawson Attorney, Agent, or Firm--l(oenig, Senniger, Powers and Leavitt[57] ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures ATHLETIC SHOE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of athletic equipmentand, more particularly, to a novel athletic shoe adapted for use in aplurality of sports.

Many athletes, particularly those of younger age, participate in anumber of different sports. One individual, for example, may participatein each of the sports of football, basketball and baseball in the courseof a given year. Participation in each of these sports requires thewearing of shoes adapted for that sport. The construction of a shoeadapted for a particular sport generally varies somewhat from theconstructions of shoes adapted for other sports, especially with respectto the traction means provided on the sole of the shoe. Thus, spikes ofone type are used for baseball, cleats of another design are used infootball, and suction cups or similar gripping devices are incorporatedin the sole of a basketball shoe.

Where an athlete participates in a number of sports, he is thus forcedto purchase and wear a number of separate pairs of athletic shoes. Forany athlete, but particularly for a schoolboy with growing feet, theexpense of buying several different pairs of shoes for several differentsports can be substantial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention,therefore, to provide a novel athletic shoe adapted for use in a numberof different sports. It is a further object of the invention to providea shoe which is convertible to a form useful in a particular sport andfully equivalent in design and performance to a conventional shoedesigned specifically for that particular sport. It is also an object ofthe invention to provide a shoe which may be quickly and easilyconverted from a form adapted for use in one sport to a form adapted foruse in another sport.

In its fundamental aspect, therefore, the present invention is directedto an athletic shoe adapted for use in a plurality of different sports.The shoe comprises an upper constructed to meet the usage requirementsof each of said sports and having a bottom. The shoe further comprisesan outsole constituted as a separate part from the upper having tractionmeans on its bottom adapted for use in one of said sports. Means areincluded for securely but removably fastening said outsole to the bottomof the upper whereby said outsole may be removed and another outsolehaving different traction means fastened to said upper. Other objectsand features will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a shoeof the invention showing an outsole having football cleats attached toan upper;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing theembodiment wherein the outsole carrying football cleats is attached tothe upper by means of a Velcro-type hook and pile fastener system;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating an embodiment in whichthe outsole includes baseball spikes and is attached to an integral soleportion of the upper by means ofscrews;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 in which the detachable outsole hasbeen removed and the shoe adapted for use in basketball with plugsscrewed into the tapped holes in the integral sole;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a plug which may be inserted in the tappedholes in the integral sole of the upper of FIG. 4 to provide tractionmeans for basketball or tenms;

FIG. 6 is a section on line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The athletic shoe of theinvention allows an athlete to participate in a variety of sportswithout the necessity of purchasing a separate pair of shoes for each ofthese sports. The substantial expense associated with thepurchase of apair of shoes for each sport is consequently avoided. This advantage maybe of particular value to the schoolboy, or to a school system supplyingshoes for schoolboys, since an athlete with growing feet may welloutgrow a particular pair of shoes before the shoes wear-out. Suchpremature obsolescence of shoes worn by younger athletes furthercompounds the expense associated with the use of conventional shoes.Where the convertible shoe of the invention is utilized,

however, the upper portion of the shoe is worn essentially year-around,allowing a young athlete to derive the benefit of a greater portion ofthe useful life of the shoe before it is outgrown.

While providing substantial economies in the expenses associated withpurchase of athletic shoes, the shoe of the invention is also adapted toperform in a manner fully equivalent to a conventional shoe specificallydesigned for a particular sport. Moreover, the shoe is quickly andeasily converted from a form adapted for use in one sport to a formadapted for use in another sport. Further advantages accrue from thefact that should either the upper or one of the detachable outsolesbecome damaged in use, it can be replaced without replacing or repairingthe entire shoe.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side elevation of theassembled shoe of the invention showing an upper l constructed to meetthe usage requirements of each of the sports in which it isused, and anoutsole 3. Typically, the upper may be constructed of lightweightleather or synthetic material which is sufficiently strong and rugged tomeet the demands of sports such as football and baseball, yet lightenough to serve in the play of sports such as basketball or tennis.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outsole 3 is detachable, being securely butremovably fastened tothe upper. The upper 1 has an insole 5 and a bottom7 to which one component 9 of a fabric fastening material is attached bymeans of an adhesive 1 l, for example, glue. Detachable outsole 3 has asecond and complementary component 13 of the fabric fastening materialadhered to its upper surface by means of adhesive layer 15. Components 9and 13, respectively, cover major proportions of bottom 7 and theuppersurface of outsole 3.

The fabric fastening material is commercially available under the tradedesignation Velcro and is similar to the material shown in de MestralUS. Pat. No. 2,717,437. One of the components of the fastening materialhas a multiplicity of hook-like pile elements which project outwardlyfrom the surface to which the component is attached and the othercomponent of the fastening material has a plush-like loop pile surfacefor interengagement with the hook-like pile elements of the firstcomponent. For purposes of secure attachment, it is immaterial whethercomponent 9 is constituted by the hook-like elements and component 13 bythe pile-like elements or vice versa. To minimize any possibility ofdamage to the fastening surface should the wearer walk wearing the shoewithout the outsole, however, it is preferred that component 9 be madeup of the plush-like elements and component 13 of the hook-likeelements.

Detachable outsole 3 and its traction means, for example, footballspikes 17 (FIG. 2), or baseball spikes 19 (FIG. 3), are preferablymolded as a single unit of rubber or a suitableplastic material. Anupwardly projecting flange 21 extends substantially around the pe;riphery of the outsole to prevent foreign objects from coming betweenthe components of the fastening system. The presence of this flangefurther assists in alignment of outsole 3 and upper 1 during assembly ofthe complete shoe. FIG. 7 shows a further modification involving theprovision of a narrow lip 22 extending inwardly from the top of flange21. The presence of lip 22 further protects against entry of foreignobjects and also helps to stabilize flange 21 against excessive flexurewhen the shoe is in use.

To securely fasten outsole 3 to upper 1, the mating surfaces ofcomponents 9 and 13 are simply placed in facing relation and pressedtogether. Removal of outsole 3 is readily accomplished by peeling thecomponents of the fabric fastening material away from each other.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention whereinthe detachable outsole is fastened by screws to the upper. Shown at 1 isan upper having an insole and a permanently attached integral sole 23 inwhich there are tapped holes 25. The detachable outsole or plate 3'carrying traction means, for example, baseball spikes 19, on the bottomthereof, includes counterbored or recessed holes 27. Outsole or plate 3'is fastened to the bottom of integral sole 23 by means of headed screws29, which are receivable in holes 27 and engageable in tapped holes 25.

FIG. 4 shows the same embodiment as FIG. 3 but with the shoe adapted foruse in a sport such as basketball or tennis. Threaded plugs 31 havingconcavities 33 and slots 35 in their outer ends are screwed into tappedholes 25. The length of each plug 31 is less than the depth of the holeinto which it is threaded. Thus, a void exists between the outer end ofeach plug and the plane of the bottom of outsole 23 in the region ofeach plug. Together with the surrounding sole wall and plug end, thisvoid provides a suction cup which provides traction means for the shoe.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. An athletic shoe adapted for use in a plurality of different sports,said shoe comprising an upper constructed to meet the usage requirementsof each of said sports and having a bottom, an outsole constituted as aseparate part from the upper having traction means on its bottom adaptedfor use in one of said sports, and means for securely but removablyfastening said outsole to the bottom of the upper, whereby said outsolemay be removed and another outsole having different traction meansfastened to said upper, said fastening means comprising a firstcomponent attached to and covering a major proportion of the bottom ofsaid upper and a second and complementary component attached to andcovering a major proportion of the upper surface of said outsole, one ofsaid components comprising a multiplicity of hook-like pile elementsprojecting outwardly from the surface to which they are attached and theother of said components comprising a plush-like loop pile surface forinterengagement with said hook-like pile elements, said outsoleincluding an upwardly projecting flange extending substantially aroundthe periphery thereof for preventing foreign objects from coming betweenthe components of said fastening means.

2. An athletic shoe as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a narrowlip extending inwardly from the top of said flange.

3. An athletic shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first componentcomprises said plush-like loop pile surface.

4. An athletic shoe adapted for use in tennis and indoor sportscomprising an upper, a sole permanently attached to said upper andhaving tapped holes therein and plugs threaded in said tapped holes, thelength of each plug being less than the depth of the hole into which itis threaded so that a void exists between the outer end of each plug andthe plane of the bottom of said sole in the region of said plug, saidvoid and the surrounding sole wall and plug end constituting tractionmeans for said shoe.

1. An athletic shoe adapted for use in a plurality of different sports,said shoe comprising an upper constructed to meet the usage requirementsof each of said sports and having a bottom, an outsole constituted as aseparate part from the upper having traction means on its bottom adaptedfor use in one of said sports, and means for securely but removablyfastening said outsole to the bottom of the upper, whereby said outsolemay be removed and another outsole having different traction meansfastened to said upper, said fastening means comprising a firstcomponent attached to and covering a major proportion of the bottom ofsaid upper and a second and complementary component attached to andcovering a major proportion of the upper surface of said outsole, one ofsaid components comprising a multiplicity of hook-like pile elementsprojecting outwardly from the surface to which they are attached and Theother of said components comprising a plush-like loop pile surface forinterengagement with said hook-like pile elements, said outsoleincluding an upwardly projecting flange extending substantially aroundthe periphery thereof for preventing foreign objects from coming betweenthe components of said fastening means.
 2. An athletic shoe as set forthin claim 1 further comprising a narrow lip extending inwardly from thetop of said flange.
 3. An athletic shoe as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid first component comprises said plush-like loop pile surface.
 4. Anathletic shoe adapted for use in tennis and indoor sports comprising anupper, a sole permanently attached to said upper and having tapped holestherein and plugs threaded in said tapped holes, the length of each plugbeing less than the depth of the hole into which it is threaded so thata void exists between the outer end of each plug and the plane of thebottom of said sole in the region of said plug, said void and thesurrounding sole wall and plug end constituting traction means for saidshoe.